Sleeper Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Sleeper" is remarkably well-executed, showcasing an impressive transfer of this 40-year-old film. The AVC-encoded, 1080p, 1.85:1 transfer extracts excellent detail from the original source material, which appears pristine with no noticeable damage or dirt. The colors are vivid and well-preserved, reproducing the slightly warm fleshtones and subdued color palette accurately. Detail levels are superb, extending to the finest features such as freckles on Woody Allen's face and neck, as well as the intricate design elements of the sets and costumes. The grain structure, typical of the 70s stock, is present and naturally rendered, enhancing the authentic visual texture without any signs of artificial reduction.

Supporting these vibrant visuals is a well-balanced contrast. Blacks are strong and deep without any crushing, and whites are clean without being overly bright, which enhances scenes involving lab coats and other white costumes where every crease and shadow is distinctly visible. Due to its efficient 87-minute runtime and minimal extras beyond a trailer, the BD-25 disc handles the film without any compression artifacts, maintaining high fidelity in the transfer. Overall, the Blu-ray release of "Sleeper" by MGM underscores the film's visual appeal with a meticulously crafted transfer that honors the original cinematography by David M. Walsh. Fans of classic Woody Allen works will find this release to be a commendable preservation of his early comedic style.

The Blu-ray release of "Sleeper" features a DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track, accurately preserving Woody Allen's signature monaural sound design. Despite the inherent limitations of a single-channel format, the audio quality is impressively rich given the film's age. The dialogue remains consistently clear and free from distortion or audible imperfections, maintaining precise fidelity throughout. The jazz and ragtime compositions, performed by Allen and his band, are presented with a surprising level of fullness and vibrancy that belies their single-channel origin. Their contemporary recordings provide a crisp and dynamic contrast to the futuristically themed visuals.

The soundscape, though mono, achieves a lively and engaging presentation. Allen meticulously ensures that even within the confined single channel, the audio is filled with great detail and texture. The pseudo-futuristic sound design, while potentially kitschy by modern standards, adds an amusing layer to the film's auditory experience. This DTS-HD MA 1.0 track effectively balances the demands of clear dialogue delivery with the rich musical elements, making it a commendable reproduction of Allen's intended auditory aesthetic.

The Blu-ray of "Sleeper" includes some noteworthy improvements and a small yet notable collection of extras. The primary highlight is the inclusion of a high-definition theatrical trailer, which features exclusive footage not present in the film itself and stands out for its exceptional quality. The disc also introduces a main menu—a departure from Fox Home Video's typically criticized user interface for MGM releases—and offers a better navigation experience by allowing users to return to the main menu upon film completion. However, the pop-up menu during playback lacks direct access to the main menu and omits bookmarking functionality. Despite these minor issues, the top menu button function compensates by resuming playback from the last viewed spot.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: A very funny trailer that includes footage not in the film, and looks spectacular in HD.

Woody Allen's Sleeper remains one of his most enduring comedic masterpieces, demonstrating his early genius for blending slapstick humor with astute social commentary. The film follows Miles Monroe (Allen), a neurotic health-store owner from the 1970s who is cryogenically frozen and awakened 200 years later by rebel scientists in a dystopian future ruled by an Orwellian regime. Thrust into a world he barely understands, Miles teams up with the initially naive Luna Schlosser (Diane Keaton) in an effort to thwart the government's nefarious Aries Project. Allen's homage to silent-era slapstick, featuring extended sequences of physical comedy, successfully aligns with his scathing criticisms of both authoritarianism and societal complacency.

Sleeper marks the beginning of Allen's illustrious collaboration with Diane Keaton. Their chemistry is palpable, lending a dynamic energy to the film that would later become central to classics like Annie Hall. Keaton's portrayal of Luna evolves from ditzy poet to passionate revolutionary, mirroring Allen's own transformation across years of filmmaking. Technical aspects are equally impressive; filmed largely in Colorado, the movie departs from Allen’s typical New York-centric settings, embracing futuristic, antiseptic environments reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Douglas Rain, the voice of HAL 9000, even makes an appearance as a sinister government computer, underscoring the film's playful yet critical engagement with high-profile sci-fi tropes.

In addition to its extensive laugh-out-loud moments—such as Allen’s hilariously bungled attempts at passing for a domestic robot—the film is peppered with incisive satirical jabs. Sequences where Miles misunderstands 23rd-century technology perfectly encapsulate Allen's blend of broad physical comedy and sharp social critique. Elements of the revolutionaries' flawed ideals further accentuate Allen’s nuanced worldview. Rather than endorsing clear-cut political alignment, Allen advocates for personal engagement and skepticism. This renders Sleeper not just a comedic triumph but an enduring societal reflection, wrapped in the timeless humor that continues to define Allen's early work.

Woody Allen's "Sleeper" epitomizes his earlier works, characterized by a masterful blend of physical comedy, social satire, and film parody. This Blu-ray edition elevates the film's humor with enhanced image quality and a robust mono soundtrack that defies expectations for a catalog release. The magnetic chemistry between Allen and Diane Keaton adds to the film's enduring appeal. Although this Blu-ray lacks special features, the inclusion of a high-quality theatrical trailer serves as a valuable nod to its vintage allure.

Set in a dystopian future, "Sleeper" showcases Allen's keen satirical insight, which remains strikingly relevant even today. The cinematography is significantly sharpened in this edition, bringing out details that enhance the viewing experience while preserving the authenticity of the original production. The mono audio track, despite being limited by its format, offers surprisingly full-bodied sound that complements the visual improvements, resulting in a well-rounded sensory experience.

After Allen famously scandalized both critics and fans by making Interiors (1978), which didn't have a funny frame in its entire running time, he created a character named Sandy Bates, a director who wanders through Stardust Memories (1980) besieged by people telling him that they prefer his earlier movies, the funny ones. We never get to see the films by Sandy Bates that his fans prefer, but they would probably look something like Sleeper. Whatever one's feeling about Allen's later career, for the brief period when he was simply trying to be funny, he was very funny. Highly recommended.